Bishop Hillhttp://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/Fri, 15 Sep 2017 07:56:21 +0000en-USSquarespace V5 Site Server v5.13.482-273 (http://www.squarespace.com)Biofuels in the 2050 calculatorEnergy: biofuelsBishop HillThu, 14 Sep 2017 10:07:42 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/9/14/biofuels-in-the-2050-calculator.html102468:902845:35968546I've been playing about with DECC's 2050 calculator and I wondered if BH readers (if any of you are still popping by) to take a look at something.

I'm interested in how it handles bioenergy. Here's how the relevant help screen describes the process.

In 2007, the UK used 4000 km2 of land to grow energy crops, which is less than 2% of the country. For comparison, 174 000 km2 of land was used for arable crops, livestock, and fallow land. The 2050 Calculator contains two options relating to agricultural biomass and land use: land use management (described here) and livestock management (described on another page).

In his book, Mackay uses a value of 244,000 km2 for the area of the UK, so "less than 2%" is correct.

]]>http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/rss-comments-entry-35968546.xmlClimate Politics as Manichean Paranoia by Roger Pielke JrClimate: RP JnrGWPFJoshPoliticiansJoshFri, 21 Jul 2017 11:26:50 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/7/21/climate-politics-as-manichean-paranoia-by-roger-pielke-jr.html102468:902845:35944156Last night Roger Peilke Jr gave a superb talk, hosted by The Global Warming Policy Foundation, on Climate change politics. It was timely, challenging and positive. I will post the video links when they are available but you can read a Twitter version of the talk here. My cartoon notes are below and click the image for a larger version.

]]>http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/rss-comments-entry-35916464.xmlSpirit of inquiryClimate: ParliamentEnergy: otherBishop HillTue, 09 May 2017 08:23:57 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/5/9/spirit-of-inquiry.html102468:902845:35907605I've been taking a look at the BEIS committee's report on the effects of Brexit on climate and energy policy, and in particular the section on investor confidence, which struck me as likely to be the most interesting. The section opens thus.

The decision to leave the EU should not distract from the Government’s policies to provide secure and affordable energy supply and to seek ambitious plans to decarbonise our energy system.203

The citation is to the submission from, erm, 38 Degrees. Which does rather make it look as if they are dictating the text.

]]>http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/rss-comments-entry-35907194.xmlChris Essex at GWPF - cartoon notesClimate: ScepticsJoshBishop HillWed, 03 May 2017 12:47:43 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/5/3/chris-essex-at-gwpf-cartoon-notes.html102468:902845:35904505Chris Essex was at GWPF last night to lecture on "The Great Climate Change Fervour". Josh sends his cartoon notes.

]]>http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/rss-comments-entry-35904505.xmlThanksBlogsBishop HillWed, 03 May 2017 12:04:03 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/5/3/thanks.html102468:902845:35904492Thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes for my new role at GWPF, or passed them on in person at Chris Essex's lecture last night.

On this historic Brexit day the fun has not been confined to this continent. Over in the US they have had a 'hearing' on Climate Science with three of the world's most eminent climate scientists. Michael Mann was there too.

Dick Lindzen has sent to President Trump a letter and petition signed by some 300 scientists and experts (H/T Anthony Watts). The petition is for the US to withdraw from the UNFCCC. I had some difficulty accessing it but eventually located a pdf of the letter and the petition itself here.

I'm sure Dick speaks for many BH readers as well some of our MPs. Even at the high water mark in 2008 only a little over half of British voters thought humans were responsible for most global warming and less than half thought it a pressing problem. Recent opinion polls now show that barely 10% of the public regard climate change as a serious concern. Few can now dispute the global agricultural benefits of increased carbon dioxide concentration, but in the UK and elsewhere we are seeing the chronic health damage resulting from the dash to diesel subsidised by foolish governments.

Hopefully when Parliament debates the Grand Repeal Bill some of our smarter MPs will push to dump any directives requiring reductions in carbon dioxide emissions or support for the UNFCCC.

]]>http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/rss-comments-entry-35857853.xmlMyron Ebell in transit - Cartoon notes by JoshGWPFJoshJoshMon, 30 Jan 2017 21:23:54 +0000http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2017/1/30/myron-ebell-in-transit-cartoon-notes-by-josh.html102468:902845:35854363Myron Ebell, who led President Trump's transition team for the Environmental Protection Agency, gave a fascinating talk at the House of Commons today on Trump's approach to environmental policy.

There are plenty of stories in the media (Guardian, Daily Mail and Independent, for example) from the press conference held earlier in the day and he covered similar ground in the HoC talk. Here are some cartoon notes - it was a lot of fun.

Last night Professor Fritz Vahrenholt gave a hugely interesting talk on Germany's experiment with renewable energy. I will add a link to the talk when it is posted up by the GWPF, who sponsored the event. In the meantime here are some cartoon notes.